Local Emergency Planning Committee

Q: What is the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)?

A: The Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) of Jefferson County was created as a direct result of legislation by the US Congress. The law was enacted to help the county protect your health, safety, and environment from potential hazards. The Jefferson County LEPC represents the entire county. It is composed of representative from all areas around the county.

Issues:

Mr. YUK

The Mr. YUK sticker campaign has been very successful in educating children to the hazards within the home. Children easily understand the symbol once it is explained to them. Teaching children that this symbol means to stay away from the item is an important job for parents to assume. Depending upon the child and the hazardous material, Mr. YUK has helped adults identify the hazards of many products around the house. By putting a Mr. YUK sticker on these kinds of hazards, it reinforces to the child to leave the hazard alone because it can hurt them.

Poison Control Center Phone numbers:

  • Children's Hospital, Pittsburgh - (412)681-6669
  • Hershey Medical Center, Hershey - (800)521-6110
  • Children's Center, Philadelphia - (215)386-2100

Protect Water/Soil

The incorrect use or disposal of a material can serious harm or destroy the quality of water and soil. When you dump a can or paint thinner down the drain or throw out an old car battery with the trash, no alarms go off, but the impact on your water and land resources could be disastrous. The average household contains between three and ten gallons of materials that are hazards to human health and/or to the natural environment.

Recycling/Reduce

An important method, which will protect you, your family, and the environment is to reduce and recycle as often as possible. The theory that if a little is good then a lot is better is not always correct.

The following suggestions can help you to reduce the amount of garbage you produce:

  • Before you buy a product, read the label; make sure that it will do what you want it to.
  • Do NOT buy more than you need.
  • Read and follow the directions on how to use a product and to dispose of its container.
  • User safer substitutions when they are available.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a household hazard that is a natural byproduct of activities in the home. CO is an odorless, colorless gas that could be created whenever a fuel (such as wood, gasoline, coal, natural gas, kerosene, etc.) is burning.

How does CO harm you?

Carbon Monoxide prevents oxygen from being used by your body. It is a poisonous gas and can harm your central nervous system. Some of the symptoms of CO poisoning are:

headaches lose of hearing
dizziness blurry vision
weakness vomiting
nausea disorientation
rapid heartbeat unconsciousness
seizures coma
respiratory failure cardiac arrest

CO poisoning mimics many common illnesses and this list is not meant to serve as a diagnosis. Always check with your doctor to make sure that you are not suffering from CO poisoning.

CO detectors detect and alert you if there are increased levels of CO in your home. But as with any detection device, they are not foolproof. If your detector alarm sounds and you are experiencing one or more of the symptoms of CO poisoning, leave your home immediately and call 911 to have your house tested. If your alarm sounds and you are not showing any of the symptoms - check your alarm, turn off any appliances or other sources of combustion, get fresh air into the building and check for any sources of CO. Adjust, repair, or replace anything you think is not working properly by calling a qualified service or repair company.

Household Cleaners

The manufactures have formulated household cleaners to be safe or to have a very low risk of danger when using them properly. Human health effects can still occur when using cleaners from accidents due to unintended exposures. Simple precautions can help prevent these accidents.

DO...

  • read and follow all label directions
  • store cleaning products away from food and young children
  • store in their original containers with the label intact
  • properly close all containers
  • put cleaning products away immediately after use

DON'T...

  • mix cleaning products - safe products can become deadly when mixed together (for example...mixing ammonia and bleach)
  • reuse an empty household cleaning product container
  • exceed recommended amounts

Medications

  • Always read the labels on your medications
  • Check with your pharmacist or physician if you are taking two or more medications at the same time. Call the poison control center if you still have any questions regarding your medications.
  • Do not borrow or loan medicines to anyone else.
  • Use child resistant containers.
  • Store in a dry, locked cabinet out of the reach of children.
  • Always store in their original containers with their labels still intact.
  • Never take more than the prescribed amount.
  • Properly dispose of all old and/or expired medications.

Plants

There are many common plants that are found in and around the home that are poisonous if eaten by humans or animals. Some basic precautions that can help prevent poisonings from plants are:

  • Know the plants in your area - home and yard.
  • Teach children to keep plants out of their mouths.
  • Keep plants, seeds, fruits, and bulbs stored away from children and pets. Many of them are dangerous if eaten.

Pesticides

A pesticide is any substance that is used to control or kill an unwanted item, such as: weeds, insects, rodents, fungi, or disease organisms. When one must use pesticides, some basic safety precautions should be use and these precautions are:

  • Read and follow all label directions for use and safety while using, such as protection clothing and gloves
  • Store pesticides in their original containers with their original labels in a secure spot.
  • Properly dispose of unused pesticides and empty containers

Internet Addresses

There are a numerous sites on the Internet that relate to hazards in both the home and environment. Some of these sites are:

Back to Senior Issues